Offer from the new SLS Las Vegas

[Alan Mendelson]

In the mail today was an offer to visit and stay and play at the new SLS Las Vegas... what used to be The Sahara at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.

It doesn't suprise me that I received an offer in the mail, since I am sure I am on lots of casino marketing lists because I have used credit cards, ATMs and cashed checks at casinos and all of that info can be used to create mailing lists.

It's not a big or generous offer but worth noting:

1. Three free nights in something called a "World Superior King" and I have no idea what that is.

2. $150 of free play (and I must be a registered guest to get the free play).

3. They will match any direct mail offer from a competing casino in Vegas.

What's curious about the offer is that they have already assigned a player's club number to me and that is printed on the offer. The player's club appears to be called THE CODE and the free play is called CODEplay. The offer is valid until the end of October. The hotel/casino opened August 23rd.

[Dan Druff]

You sure you never played at the Sahara and gave your info?

Interesting how they are matching offers from other casinos. I wonder if they are doing that for everyone, or just people like you who are invited.

I have some friends who would like to take advantage of this if they can (not me, sadly, because I get crap offers now.)

[Alan Mendelson]

I played at the Sahara pre-1998 and did not have a players card and lived at a different address. I think this offer like those I get from downtown casinos came from a marketing company. I never played downtown.

[Rob.Singer]

This is simple, and it has zero to do with ATM or credit card use. Those hosts you guys are so infatuated with talk all the time, and when a host leaves any casino for any other they look at huge lists of names (obtained ethically or not) and ratings and either send out invites or their marketing computers do it for them. It happens regularly Alan. I've already received an offer from the new Hard Rock in Tahoe, and it's not even open yet. This also happened at Aria and Cosmo. I'm surprised with your history, you haven't seen more. OTOH, Dan, who fancies himself as an overcomped brute, is no doubt late to the game again. Or, he's red-flagged for mistreating casino personnel and having a bad, sour grapes attitude about the entire casino industry.

[Alan Mendelson]

Those hosts you guys are so infatuated with talk all the time, and when a host leaves any casino for any other they look at huge lists of names (obtained ethically or not) and ratings and either send out invites or their marketing computers do it for them. It happens regularly Alan.

I've had only two hosts at Caesars. One is still at Caesars, one is at MGM. Neither, I am sure, would supply a marketing list to SLS. Any other host I dealt with in the past would not have my current address. I think this shoots down your theory, Rob.

All of the casinos share data on players who have credit lines and cash checks and use ATM cards and pay hotel bills with credit cards. All of that info is shared through a central clearinghouse to protect the casinos against fraud.

That "central clearinghouse" is an independent company that can easily create marketing lists.

The one thing a host will not share -- and a casino company will not share -- is its list of preferred players.